Present Mind Within a Busy Day

      You have probably heard many versions of this sentiment before.  Quietly, you hope you are not living your life this way.  We all have very different lives, work and past times with this residing theme in common – we are BUSY.  When we are not busy we turn on the TV, read a book, do household chores, and it goes on and on.  Remembering to BE in the Present Moment when this is not facilitated by a class may be difficult.  The times dedicated to presence may be far and few in between all of the ‘stuff’ that makes up our lives.

      Here is an exercise that anyone can do many times a day, every day:

      Consider a brilliant part of existence – – –

Every few seconds, 24 hours a day something we take for granted is happening to every person alive.  Do you know what this is? They are breathing. The breath, the inhale and exhale, is a small wonder occurring repeatedly in our daily living.

The next time you are unloading the dishwasher, filing papers, writing an email, driving to work, cooking a meal or sitting in a meeting – take note of your breath.  Move dishes, papers or laundry with your inhale and exhale.  Yes, this does mean slowing down your pace for a few minutes.  It also means appreciating the task at hand and perhaps even enjoying activities you before thought of as menial.  If in a meeting, be present by noticing how your inhale and exhale can make tiny shifts within your posture and then acknowledge your slow, calm breathing for a few minutes while listening to the meeting’s agenda.  Having awareness of your breathing for a few minutes at a time gives your mind a break from its incessant darting between subjects.  Presence with breath allows us to tune in to our body and to be aware of the story it is telling us all day.  Often, we only hear our bodies when they yell and scream to us in discomfort.  Noticing your breath throughout the day in small increments will calm and rest your mind leading to awareness of the mind/body connection.  Use the breath to teach your mind and body to become interconnected, feeling what life is giving you in this moment.  Many of us spend time immersed in the sorrows of the past and worries of the future.  Five minutes from now is the future and the last conversation we had is in the past.  Aim to be in the present.

     Let us know how easy or difficult you find this and with what part of your day it was possible.  For me, I find it possible with driving and dishes  🙂  ~ Jessica

(Valerie’s presence with breath is also in the task of dishes as well as clearing clutter and vacuuming.)